For our winter break in February, we went back to one of our favorite places on the planet, San Sebastian, which is in the northern region of Spain. We went there for the first time during our Christmas break in 2014 and loved it so much we had to go back. The theme of the city is delicate gluttony at a relaxed pace all within a magical 70-degree beach setting. We flew into Bordeaux and drove 2-hours to San Sebastian to start the trip. As soon as we arrived we were reminded about how amazing this city is so we changed our reservation to stay an extra day. We went to France too for a few days which was FINE.
Glorious beachfront city!
This is a typical street lined with pintxos bars and people who love pintxos.
The pintxos bars have snacks lining the counter. At some bars, you can just take what you want and pay by the toothpick but at most places the bartender serves you. Most have menus with hot pintxos that are made to order. I had to learn how to make photo collages on the interweb just so I could fit all of the food pictures into this post. You’re welcome. (clockwise from the left: counter of pintxos at Gandarias, bolos de carne (Mike’s reason for living) at Bar Sport, steak sandwich at Zeruko, fois gras at Bar Sport)
This is our best friend pouring us some txakolina at Bar Sport.
There were no snacks in this church.
But we found some snacks nearby. (Clockwise from top left: mushroom prosciutto cup at Gandarias, bric de bacalhau at Bar Haizea, tortilla at Bar Sport, fish with crab cream, grilled padrons with salt at Bar Sport, crepe de txangurro at Bar Sport, calamari and mussels at La Mejillonera, amazing smoked trout at Zeruko. Center: tiny sandwich at Bar Sport)
Took a necessary break from pintxos bar hopping for a nearby hike…
…but we thought about pinxtos throughout the hike. (Clockwise from the left: Amazing beef cheeks with lentils at La Cuchara de San Telmo, jamon croissants and seared fois gras with apples at Bar Haizea)
Started hiking down the mountain and looking for pintxos in the trees…
…and then found these pintxos under a bush. (Clockwise from the left: sundried tomato, goat cheese, onion jam and prosciutto at Bar Sport, the creamiest cheesecake ever and a skewer of assorted delicious things at Bar Haizea)
Stopped to share snacks with some goats.
Cool gals at La Cuchara de San Telmo
Muchos pintxos (Clockwise from the left: gelato, bacalhau fritters, tiny chorizo and egg sandwiches, crispy pigs ear at La Cuchara de San Telmo, fish cheeks in squid ink served on a Zeruko and eggplant with prosciutto)
Everyone should do this trip! Let us know if you do and we’ll go with you. After San Sebastian, we drove back to France for a few more days of traveling….blog post about that coming up soon!
Restaurants Recommendations: All of them, but you must go to…
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